Yes, there you are. They are more available colour morphs in axolotls - is this because they breed more easily in captivity? Would I be right in thinking you can get colour morphs in most species?
Like Axolotls, Mudpuppies retain their external gills into adulthood and are fully aquatic for life.
It is more responsible, especially if you're a casual pet owner without much experience of various amphibians to keep axolotls are pets because they are more readily captive-bred. Maintenance may also be more straightforward/there be more literature to follow to keep them happy and healthy.
They are gorgeous looking animals, but that alone can't really justify keeping one captive just as a pet, I don't think.
Apparently one white male axolotl from Paris is the sole ancestor of all albino offspring, but I don't know how much of that is hearsay. I would argue that the albino strain of axolotls would usually not exist in the wild, or they wouldn't survive long enough to breed, because they are very visible, especially in the murky waters they call home!
I guess since the potential for albinism is available in any animal then it would be possible to breed an albino or colour morphed Mudpuppy by only breeding the individuals that lack colour or by chance breeding for the rarer genotypes. I don't know much about Mudpuppies, but I don't think they were bred as extensively for research as axolotls, which is perhaps why we have more morphs for axxies - selective breeding.
Mudpuppies look to me like sea serpents, which I know might be considered cool, but they sound a lot more high maintenance to me.
And there is plenty more awesomeness in them...
16) Axolotls can regenerate every part of their body including bones and organs.
17) Axolotls have a unique caudal fin which extends down their entire bodies.
18) Axolotls can grow to be 30 cm long or even longer!
19) Axolotls can morph. (Although we don't encourage it unless the axolotl does it spontaneously, it's still cool to know they have that potential).
20. Spawning and seeing the resulting mix of babies is a magical thing.
21. Tank design! Need I say more?
22. Playing 'spot the axolotl' if you have a melanoid or Wild Type.
23. Seeing beautiful iridophores or gills appear on a juvenile.
24. Coming home from work and seeing them so happy to see you.
25. The 'please sir, may I have some worms?' dance!
26. Having an albino that looks nothing like any other albino colour you've ever seen.
27. Seeing them grip their substrate with tiny toes!
28. Axolotl footprints in sand.
29. Gill flicks!
30. Anddd....slurrrppinnng up worms like spaghetti!